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WEBER STATE UNIVERSITY The Q : jF Sll PTD TH) O Stl" (7) Students strutt their stuff at Variety Show Making the most of a haunted house experience see page 5 FRIDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2004 wsusignpost.com VOLUME 67 ISSUE 29 J, ZZmLm uLIm adS vy j Jj u j 5gce7 ITraveloinigj proacQners EsMEsaircil sMeimfts v tyi M i I I V - -- 1 h -3 Preacher Michael Warnecki holds a flag that reads "All this is of Satan, seek Jesus." Michael along with his wife Rachel and daughter Ruth preached next to the Stewart Bell Tower Wednesday morning. The preachers were not well received and participated in verbal confrontations with some students. By CONTRIBUTING WRITERS staff The Signpost Students rushing to their 8 a.m. classes were greeted bright and early Wednesday morning with large banners saying "All this is of Satan, seek Jesus" and "Turn to Jesus or you're headed for Hell." The flags and the message the Warnecki family, a traveling group of preachers, brought to the area near the Stewart Bell Tower didn't receive a warm welcome. During the family's preaching, Nate Marion, WSU sophomore, inched forward, one hand clenched into a fist, the other hand pointing to a large flag held by Michael Warnecki. "All I'm saying is that I don't agree with this," Marion said, stabbing his finger into the air. "You know, it's not my message," Michael replied, stepping even closer to Marion. "I didn't write this down. I didn't go up on a mountaintop and have a revelation of this. I took it right out of the Bible. First John five-nineteen." "No, it came out of an alley, smoking crack or something, obviously," Marion shot back. "Well then you're mocking God! See, that's what I mean," Michael said, his knuckles whitening as he gripped the long yellow pole of the banner he waved. "No, I'm mocking you!" Marion snapped. Three family members, Michael the father, his wife Rachel and their daughter Ruth, shared their beliefs and handed out fliers with headlines such as "The Overture to Hell" and "How to Win the 'Crazy War'" to students. According to Ruth, there were five other children who usually preach too, but had stayed at home Wednesday. Students like Marion had strong reactions to the Warnecki family as they heard comments shouted to them like "Drop out of school" and "Turn away from Money." "I don't think they should be on campus disturbing and distracting students," said Heather Hayes, WSU freshman. See Preachers page 3 Tax proposed to uplift Ogden community By MARIA VILLASENOR managing editor The Signpost Instead of having their taxes decided by politicians who have forgotten their campaign promises, Utah voters in several counties will decide themselves whether a tax increase would benefit their cities. A sales tax increase equaling a penny for every $10 purchase will be decided upon by Weber and Davis county voters supporting Weber's Proposition 1 RAMP tax or Davis' Proposition 2 RAP tax. "The remarkable thing is that why people have come aboard is they've caught on to a sense of vision," said Candadai Seshachari, former Weber State University professor and co-chair of the RAMP committee. "That is, it's a citizen's thing and we need to do this for ourselves. These are things the government won't do. These are the things the government doesn't have the money to do." See Tax page 1 1 Distinguished alumnus speaks on people making a difference By KATIE VAN AUSDAL sr. news reporter The Signpost Those who choose to enlist in the military give up having a primary residence, a place of permanence. "It's good to be home" were Gen. David Ralston's opening words at Convocations on Wednesday. Ralston, a two-star general and director of force management at the Pentagon, is this year's recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award. He exuded a quiet confidence as he told those present they could make a difference. "There's a saying in the military: 'The plan never survives the first contact with the enemy,'" Ralston said. He said location and plans are not as important as opportunities. Ralston said that since U.S. troops entered Iraq, they have opened 2,400 schools, 1,200 clinics and 200 hospitals. Ninety percent of Iraqi children have been immunized, and troops have delivered 3 million metric tons of food. See Difference page 10 Moore met with minimal moans By COLLEEN BATCHELOR a & e editor The Signpost Often the outspoken voices of few are given media coverage, which gives an overestimation of controversy. From the number of people who showed up to protest Michael Moore's speech at Utah Valley State College, it appears that this instance was no different. Of the estimated 40 or so protesters lined behind a temporary fence outside the David O. McKay Event Center, less than one-quarter were there to oppose Moore. Justin Casey, a University of Utah student, showed his anti-Moore position with a homemade sign, written on a torn piece of brown cardboard and tied around his neck with twine. "I think I'll let the courts decide," Casey said in response to whether Moore should have been invited to speak. "I think the lawsuit is justifiable." One group of protesters showed up dressed in suits and ballroom dresses, smoking cigars and holding up sarcastic BushCheney election signs that read "Leave No Billionaire Behind" and "Privatize Everything." All the while they chanted "We're here. We're rich. Get used to it." Eileen Olsen of West Jordan just wanted to show Moore that Utah welcomed him. "I am trying to be a welcoming presence for Moore to show him that yes, there is free speech in Utah," Olsen said. "While there are people who are lrv ii.'i-""1'- i i - 1L. It Filmmaker and writer Michael Moore praised UVSC students who stood by his appearance despite a public backlash. offended, frightened by his movies and by his books, that there are people who welcome what he has to say." Moore commended the UVSC students who held their ground, despite the protests. "I understand that the students who invited me here have had to put up with a lot of grief from closed-minded, backward-thinking people," Moore said. "I feel very bad for the students who had to suffer through this, simply because they believed in the freedom of expression. They believed that the university experience should be about exposing students to all political points of view, to all ideas." Utah is not the only place Moore has been met with opposition on his speaking tour. According to his publicist, Terri Hardesty, a pay-per-view showing of Fahrenheit 911 was to be shown on the eve of the election through In-Demand, but the company backed out of the deal. And then there was the underwear incident. "As an incentive to get people to vote, kind of gag really; he hands out clean underwear and packages of Top Ramen to people who agree to vote, or encourage others to vote," Hardesty said in a pre-show press conference. "The Michigan Republican Party tried to have him arrested for doing that, saying that he was bribing people to vote." Although there has been a lot of criticism over the amount of money Moore was paid to come to UVSC, Hardesty insisted that while his speaking fee varies, he is not profiting from the two-cities-a-day tour. "He's using the money to travel with a crew that is registering people to vote," Hardesty said. "He's putting forth this huge effort, actually using his own money to do this." Utah was the 35th stop on Moore's Slacker Uprising tour, with a goal to speak at 61 cities before the election, targeting young nonvoters. "Attempt to convince the 50 percent who don't vote to give voting a try, just this once," Moore said. "The 50 percent in this country who don't vote are not the wealthy and the elite. They are the poor, the working-class, single moms and See Moore page 6

Public Domain. Courtesy of University Archives, Stewart Library, Weber State University.

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WEBER STATE UNIVERSITY The Q : jF Sll PTD TH) O Stl" (7) Students strutt their stuff at Variety Show Making the most of a haunted house experience see page 5 FRIDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2004 wsusignpost.com VOLUME 67 ISSUE 29 J, ZZmLm uLIm adS vy j Jj u j 5gce7 ITraveloinigj proacQners EsMEsaircil sMeimfts v tyi M i I I V - -- 1 h -3 Preacher Michael Warnecki holds a flag that reads "All this is of Satan, seek Jesus." Michael along with his wife Rachel and daughter Ruth preached next to the Stewart Bell Tower Wednesday morning. The preachers were not well received and participated in verbal confrontations with some students. By CONTRIBUTING WRITERS staff The Signpost Students rushing to their 8 a.m. classes were greeted bright and early Wednesday morning with large banners saying "All this is of Satan, seek Jesus" and "Turn to Jesus or you're headed for Hell." The flags and the message the Warnecki family, a traveling group of preachers, brought to the area near the Stewart Bell Tower didn't receive a warm welcome. During the family's preaching, Nate Marion, WSU sophomore, inched forward, one hand clenched into a fist, the other hand pointing to a large flag held by Michael Warnecki. "All I'm saying is that I don't agree with this," Marion said, stabbing his finger into the air. "You know, it's not my message," Michael replied, stepping even closer to Marion. "I didn't write this down. I didn't go up on a mountaintop and have a revelation of this. I took it right out of the Bible. First John five-nineteen." "No, it came out of an alley, smoking crack or something, obviously," Marion shot back. "Well then you're mocking God! See, that's what I mean," Michael said, his knuckles whitening as he gripped the long yellow pole of the banner he waved. "No, I'm mocking you!" Marion snapped. Three family members, Michael the father, his wife Rachel and their daughter Ruth, shared their beliefs and handed out fliers with headlines such as "The Overture to Hell" and "How to Win the 'Crazy War'" to students. According to Ruth, there were five other children who usually preach too, but had stayed at home Wednesday. Students like Marion had strong reactions to the Warnecki family as they heard comments shouted to them like "Drop out of school" and "Turn away from Money." "I don't think they should be on campus disturbing and distracting students," said Heather Hayes, WSU freshman. See Preachers page 3 Tax proposed to uplift Ogden community By MARIA VILLASENOR managing editor The Signpost Instead of having their taxes decided by politicians who have forgotten their campaign promises, Utah voters in several counties will decide themselves whether a tax increase would benefit their cities. A sales tax increase equaling a penny for every $10 purchase will be decided upon by Weber and Davis county voters supporting Weber's Proposition 1 RAMP tax or Davis' Proposition 2 RAP tax. "The remarkable thing is that why people have come aboard is they've caught on to a sense of vision," said Candadai Seshachari, former Weber State University professor and co-chair of the RAMP committee. "That is, it's a citizen's thing and we need to do this for ourselves. These are things the government won't do. These are the things the government doesn't have the money to do." See Tax page 1 1 Distinguished alumnus speaks on people making a difference By KATIE VAN AUSDAL sr. news reporter The Signpost Those who choose to enlist in the military give up having a primary residence, a place of permanence. "It's good to be home" were Gen. David Ralston's opening words at Convocations on Wednesday. Ralston, a two-star general and director of force management at the Pentagon, is this year's recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award. He exuded a quiet confidence as he told those present they could make a difference. "There's a saying in the military: 'The plan never survives the first contact with the enemy,'" Ralston said. He said location and plans are not as important as opportunities. Ralston said that since U.S. troops entered Iraq, they have opened 2,400 schools, 1,200 clinics and 200 hospitals. Ninety percent of Iraqi children have been immunized, and troops have delivered 3 million metric tons of food. See Difference page 10 Moore met with minimal moans By COLLEEN BATCHELOR a & e editor The Signpost Often the outspoken voices of few are given media coverage, which gives an overestimation of controversy. From the number of people who showed up to protest Michael Moore's speech at Utah Valley State College, it appears that this instance was no different. Of the estimated 40 or so protesters lined behind a temporary fence outside the David O. McKay Event Center, less than one-quarter were there to oppose Moore. Justin Casey, a University of Utah student, showed his anti-Moore position with a homemade sign, written on a torn piece of brown cardboard and tied around his neck with twine. "I think I'll let the courts decide," Casey said in response to whether Moore should have been invited to speak. "I think the lawsuit is justifiable." One group of protesters showed up dressed in suits and ballroom dresses, smoking cigars and holding up sarcastic BushCheney election signs that read "Leave No Billionaire Behind" and "Privatize Everything." All the while they chanted "We're here. We're rich. Get used to it." Eileen Olsen of West Jordan just wanted to show Moore that Utah welcomed him. "I am trying to be a welcoming presence for Moore to show him that yes, there is free speech in Utah," Olsen said. "While there are people who are lrv ii.'i-""1'- i i - 1L. It Filmmaker and writer Michael Moore praised UVSC students who stood by his appearance despite a public backlash. offended, frightened by his movies and by his books, that there are people who welcome what he has to say." Moore commended the UVSC students who held their ground, despite the protests. "I understand that the students who invited me here have had to put up with a lot of grief from closed-minded, backward-thinking people," Moore said. "I feel very bad for the students who had to suffer through this, simply because they believed in the freedom of expression. They believed that the university experience should be about exposing students to all political points of view, to all ideas." Utah is not the only place Moore has been met with opposition on his speaking tour. According to his publicist, Terri Hardesty, a pay-per-view showing of Fahrenheit 911 was to be shown on the eve of the election through In-Demand, but the company backed out of the deal. And then there was the underwear incident. "As an incentive to get people to vote, kind of gag really; he hands out clean underwear and packages of Top Ramen to people who agree to vote, or encourage others to vote," Hardesty said in a pre-show press conference. "The Michigan Republican Party tried to have him arrested for doing that, saying that he was bribing people to vote." Although there has been a lot of criticism over the amount of money Moore was paid to come to UVSC, Hardesty insisted that while his speaking fee varies, he is not profiting from the two-cities-a-day tour. "He's using the money to travel with a crew that is registering people to vote," Hardesty said. "He's putting forth this huge effort, actually using his own money to do this." Utah was the 35th stop on Moore's Slacker Uprising tour, with a goal to speak at 61 cities before the election, targeting young nonvoters. "Attempt to convince the 50 percent who don't vote to give voting a try, just this once," Moore said. "The 50 percent in this country who don't vote are not the wealthy and the elite. They are the poor, the working-class, single moms and See Moore page 6